Caulking kitchen backsplash/counter joint:

[oldberkeley]

Grrrrrr! Man-oh-man, I was never very good at this and I seem to be getting worse!

Ceramic tile, quartz countertop.

Blue-taped both sides of the joint.

Using siliconized acrylic caulk because I thought it would be easier than pure silicon.

OK up to the point where I pull up the tape. That seems to cause a small lip or space between the caulk and the surface. When I try to smooth it out with a wet finger--disaster!

Any tips much appreciated.

 

[Wood'nMetal]

Classic caulking mistakes:

-Cutting too big an opening on the caulk tube tip. Smaller is better.
-Wrong caulking. Pure silicone is much easier to spread in that application.
-Trying to fill too big a gap. Use backer foam if necessary.
-Bad caulking gun. Use one of the no drip, constant pressure guns. If it is the old ratcheting style gun, throw it out!
-Lay the bead smooth and steady in as long a run as you can. Anticipate corners where you will have to change tip angle.

I like to use spray windex to help smooth the bead, go light on the spray...just a mist. Start with a smaller bead than you think you need.
If necessary, tape the joint with frog tape 1st, leaving a gap the size of the bead you want. Usually it turns out better if you don't use tape, especially if it's a really small joint.

 

[rlitman]

Use rubbing alcohol on your finger instead of water.

 

[gungatim]

get a plastic caulk seam tool from home depot or whoever. all the home stores sell them for like $3....it's all you need, once you use one you'll never use tape or your finger agin.

 

[shoot summ]

For siliconized latex I cut a grout sponge into 2" squares, wet it, and smooth the joints. A painter showed me this trick and it works great. Especially for painted trim, you can fill gaps and cut it in where it doesn't even look like it is caulked...

 

[Stinger]

get a plastic caulk seam tool from home depot or whoever. all the home stores sell them for like $3....it's all you need, once you use one you'll never use tape or your finger again.

This!

I'm a good smooth caulker without the tool but I still got one because there are times when I need it perfect, not just good, and those little plastic tools allow you to make it perfect every time. Just make sure you wipe off the excess off the tool every now and then so you don't get a big blob on it.

 

[Zeke]

The solution is simple — you're not wiping down the bead enough. It has to feather out to nothing at the tape edge. Pure silicone works with alcohol or soapy water. Soapy water doesn't remove any caulk, just tools it. What you are using responds to water well. Use a wet t-shirt or other smooth fabric. Something like a towel will leave ridges.

 

[Slednut]

The solution is simple — you're not wiping down the bead enough. It has to feather out to nothing at the tape edge. Pure silicone works with alcohol or soapy water. Soapy water doesn't remove any caulk, just tools it. What you are using responds to water well. Use a wet t-shirt or other smooth fabric. Something like a towel will leave ridges.

Zeke's right (again).

 

[soob]

I always dipped my finger in mineral spirits, and I never used tape; but then I don't know what I'm doing. I agree that the trick is simply not to put too much caulk in. And always pull the caulking gun rather than push it.

And use pure silicone caulk; the acrylic stuff *****.

 

[dogdog]

just spend that $5 and get that tool it makes your caulking life heck lot easier and cleaner than you can do with your finger (s).

they sell those and simliar tools different brand at lowes and HD even your favorite HF.

 

[gungatim]

just spend that $5 and get that tool it makes your caulking life heck lot easier and cleaner than you can do with your finger (s).

they sell those and simliar tools different brand at lowes and HD even your favorite HF.

Yep, that's it, but the one I have is actually like 1" square plastic about 3" long so you run it against the edge and keep it straight. either way, first time you use one, you won't believe how easy it is and wonder why you've been using a finger all these years!

 

[oldberkeley]

Will try the tool and switch over to silicon. Thanks for all the input.

 

[99LeCouch]

Xwhatever on the tool. I re-caulked around all the exterior windows last summer. That little tool saved a lot of time and hassle getting perfect-looking beads.

If you need to re-caulk an area since it wasn't thick enough the first time, run the tool down the whole length again. Otherwise the cut-in and cut-out points will be obvious.

 

[Boomer343]

Where you are trying to caulk is a difficult spot with the dips and grout lines of tile. I have found to get the best looking joint I do it in two steps. First one is to tape quick and close in then run a bead to fill the gaps and dips. I like a small tight caulk line and have not found a tool that will give that so I just use a wet finger with lots of paper towel to wipe off the finger. If I'm color matching grout with the same mfg colored acrylic caulk then I know it has a higher shrink rate than white silicone so the second step takes care of that after the first pass has dried.
Second step is to tape carefully and run another bead that as Zeke says feathers out. Pull the tape as you go and don't be slow.
I also have 1/4" wide masking tape that I have used for curves, fronts of toilets etc. or just on tight spots like behind sink taps although I usually pull them.

 

[boobag]

try and apply a small bead
spray bead with water or windex or?
smooth bead with finger
done